I recently became aware of the "Jake Blade" tremolo arm replacement... It's kind of a like a flat metal leaf shape. It is used to good effect by Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee, who plays a Comanche. I think he invented it too. (Yeah this isn't a Comanche, just the first pic I found of a Jake Blade on a guitar.)
https://www.roughgaugellc.com/shop-2/ja ... al-fulcrumIt's hard to find well informed discussions online about this gadget. Everyone has an opinion if they look at it, some people "know a guy" who has one, no one seems to have actually used it personally. Hopefully, someone here can share their experience with it.
I find it appealing because I find a normal trem arm to be kind of in the way sometimes. And, as a new player, I don't really need the trem arm ready to go all the time. But, I am interested in learning to play surf music and so I wonder if the reduced lever action of the Jake Blade might make those deep bends impractical.